July 2017

November 21, 2016

This week is all about gratitude. Taking a moment away from holiday madness to note a few things that make us happy. Today I documented my girls. They have a special bond. I often get asked if they are twins because they are so tightly knit. Love them. So much. My prayer is that they will always remain close.

How about you? Might you take a moment to put a page together? I hope you will find a few stolen moments!

November 18, 2016

This month I have been focusing on gratitude as a matter of staying positive and engaged. I thought perhaps for the rest of the month I could create pages around those things for which I am grateful. Today's project was electricity. And how best to recognize it than to document a day without it.

September. Hot. Humid. And on this day, without electricity. So no lights. And no air conditioning. Yikes! The older I get, the more I wonder how we lived without air forever. And let's not even discuss not having my computer without electricity... EGAD! The horror! ☺

November 17, 2016

I lost my father to cancer two weeks ago. Last week I traveled home for the funeral. While I stood in the receiving line both at the viewing and prior to the funeral, I wanted so much to be behind the camera. (Hiding and) capturing. There were so many moments of things both tender and raw that I wanted to shoot so that I might replay them later when I am more still. Small movements, sadness that showed and ran away, the kindness of old friends and family. I wanted to capture the sun at the cemetary. The brisk southern Alberta wind through the petals on the coffin spray. The beautiful shoes sliding into the dirt at the gravesite, much to no one's care. The grandkids holding hands. The soft sympathy in faces of my youth lined with years that have passed without my noticing. Words cannot capture the sadness I saw. Of men grasping to understand. Of sisters tearful and brave. I wanted to preserve hugs that clung to one another. And still faces with falling tears. There were so many things that will fade with time and memory.

I did take one photo. We were leaving the family room, proceeding into the chapel. My brother, always the stoic, reached out and put his arm around my tiny mom. I couldn't help but take a photo. It will be the one picture that will have to sum up the day. And hopefully when I look at it, I can always remember all the other pictures that live just in my memory.

November 04, 2016

It's Friday! But that doesn't mean we stop scrapbooking! No, but it does mean that after a long week we might be a little tired. So we are going to take some of the guess work out of where to start. Open your phone, go to the first photo on it, email it to yourself, and get started!

We interrupt this programming for a public service announcement If you have not downloaded or backed up the photos on your phones lately, please do so now. You won't regret it!And now, back to our show...

My first photo is one from June. (Guess it's time for me to back up my pictures, too!) I took it from the tent first thing in the morning on a camping weekend. I really love the angle and all the ambiance. So I decided to keep it big so you could see the details. It's a bit old school in design, but I really just wanted the memories recorded. And I sort of like how it turned out.

How about you? Will you join me in making a layout from a random photo off your phone? I would love to see them if you do!

November 02, 2016

Do you have times when you notice your surroundings more than others? For me, it's autumn. Here the skies are bluer than any other time of the year. And the trees. The colors are magnificent. And last. When I lived in Utah, the colors seemed to change in a weekend, and then the leaves would fall before the next weekend came. But here, the colors change slowly, and the leaves can stay for a month. It is remarkable.

If there is something magical going on around you, might you share it with me? I would love to see it!

November 01, 2016

Good morning! Last night after the kids got home and to bed, I put all of the Halloween decorations down. I love my little pumpkin-headed witch, but there is something very satisfying about closing a chapter and beginning a new one. I love the clean slate. I get so bogged down by things left undone and things not finished that having a chance to reset is quite a lovely thing.

So what does one do with a new month and a new holiday season? Well, first, new decorations must go up, of course. And though they may be sort of the same from year to year, there is no reason to not document them. Especially when they are as cute as these!

The fancy clipboard is new this year, so I have the pleasure of making new signs for it. This is the new one for Thanksgiving. If you would like me to email you one, please leave me a comment!

15 DEGREESBY ALIZA

A Note from AlizaI was a bit pressed for time with this layout. To help move things along quickly, I picked out a few papers with muted colors, and just layered them with my photo right in the center. It’s one of my go to techniques.

A Note from JennyIn the autumn, I always see lots of lists online sharing what people love about fall. They never reflect me, so I decided to make my own list. I used an old photo of myself in the fall.

SIGNS OF FALLBY DEE

A Note from DeeThis layout showcases a list of what is quintessential fall to me: cinnamon, pumpkin, wind & rain, falling leafs, strolls in the woods! The picture is of course taken during fall: after cycling home from work in the rain; typical fall!

October Fun FactAfter enjoying a long and adventurous summer I’m definitely loving that fall is here: cozy nights at home, candles, a big mug filled with tea, chai or hot chocolate, a good book! Here’s to cocooning!

September 13, 2016

Welcome back for day two of our school week. Today we are going to document our school transportation. Do your kids ride the bus? Do they walk? do you drive them? Let's make a page about it. Mine ride the bus. Sometimes. When they don't miss it. (We might not be the fastest in the morning.)

As you are putting your page together, consider recording the time they get out of the house, the driver, funny things that happen on the way to school, anything that they might want to remember later. And if it takes more than just one page, that's okay too!

September 12, 2016

For many of us, school is now in a good rhythm. First days were photographed. First outfits have been washed. First nerves are calmed. And now all that's left is the recording!!

This week, I thought we might brainstorm some ideas for creating pages about school. Not just first day pages, but of course, that is a fabulous place to start. So let's! shall we?

I think back-to-school pictures are a timeless thing. They transcend hobbies, hometowns, or decades. Everyone just seems to take them. I had a neighbor who got her camera out for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and the first day of school.

So let's think of all the things we could do with a first day photo:

the stats: height, weight, shoe size

likes/dislikes

favorites

life right now

current trends

all about

So many things to write about. Which one will you choose?

For the big, I decided to to a moment in time. A sentence for where we were, a sentence for where we are going, and a few extras. Nothing fancy.

For the middle, I talked a bit about how she put a smile on despite her fears for the day.

How about you? Will you make a first day layout? Or maybe you already have. I'd love to see them!

September 01, 2016

New gallery day! You have patiently waited for a new gallery. And now it is here! Please enjoy The Vacationers! Remember, you can see the layouts in more detail and have the journaling if you click on over to the photo album!

Loved This Adventure by Aliza

A Note from Aliza We did not travel much this summer, but this hike was quite glorious, and it was enough to make us feel like we were on vacation.

Journaling Storm King Mountain. This was our second time hiking here, and first time with all 4 of us, completing a whole trail. There was climbing up and down rocks, amazing views, twisty trails in a tree covered forest, some exhaustion and crankiness, then an even better view from what we think was the top of the mountain, and then more climbing down rocks to get back down. Everyone (!) enjoyed the challenge. Sam brought his Go Pro and has been helping with some of the picture-taking responsibilities.

September Fun Fact One son is leaving to study in Israel for the year, and one is beginning high school. How time flies.

I Didn't Love Paris by Amy

A Note from Amy After I wrote this journaling I thought "Could I sound any more whiny? Complaining about being in Paris?" but I stayed with it because it was my authentic response. On a design note, I love adding gold (or silver, or grey) lines to fussy cut flowers. It adds a little extra pop and helps it to feel like it's more mine.

September Fun Fact It's September! Is there anything more exciting than the arrival of autumn?